When playing club soccer, a few of the things that motivate young kids is playing the game they most love along with their friends, and at the same time, pursuing a dream that if achieved, will make their families proud. That is the case with midfielder Alex Mendez.

In his first year with Chivas USA’s Youth Development Academy, the 13-year old player is excited to take part of one of the most important scouting programs in the country, none other than U.S. Club Soccer’s id² Camp. The id² National Identification and Development Program provides an opportunity for the country’s top youth soccer players to be identified and developed, and to be scouted for inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s National Team Youth Ranks.

Mendez, along with U13 teammate Miguel Ibarra, will be participating in the program this upcoming Dec. 12- 15 in Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Arizona, home of the U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy reigning champion, Real Salt Lake AZ.

“I think [camp] is going to be challenging,” Mendez said. “I want to show them how [I play] and I hope that they choose me for their other [National Team] camp with my teammates Charlie [Carlos Anguiano] and Xuxu [John Hilton]. I want be with them in the national camp in Florida and I want to make my family proud.”

In his first national trip, Mendez wants to show off his talent in order to move onto the next level. Mendez initially began playing baseball, but then at the young age of four, he began playing soccer thanks to the influence of his uncle.

After 15 games within the Coast Soccer League, a national and international tournament, Mendez has become a standout player with the U13s, scoring a total of three goals and starting in the vast majority of the team’s games. In his first year with the Red-and-White Development Academy, but his fourth year with Head Coach Brian Kleiban, Mendez feels like he has made great progress in his development and feels comfortable with Chivas USA.

“It feels great because it makes you feel like mini-professionals,” Mendez commented about the Youth Development Academy. “They taught us discipline and doing our job; our job is to focus on us and let everyone else do their job.”